The real game going on here is that Google and Apple both know that App-driven search is the most likely next business model to erode Google’s Web-based search dominance. Smart mobile devices will dwarf PC’s over the next 6-10 years (just think that Apple will ship 100m+ iPhone/iPod touches in the first three years, probably hitting that benchmark by summer, 2010). This is the game of the century.

The Apple tablet is rumored to be announced on 1/27, and will be available by March. I doubt the Quattro acquistion excites existing magazine/newspaper publishers – remnant inventory does not boost their businesses much, and the ad content (hello, Viagra!) is distracting.